A Kneeling Woman with an Incense Burner and a Page Holding a Crown and Scepter
1726
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1726
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
A Kneeling Woman with an Incense Burner and a Page Holding a Crown and Scepter is a 1726 chalk by Anton Kern, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a woman kneeling on one knee, holding a small burning pot that sends up a thin curl of smoke. Next to her, a young boy stands holding a crown and a staff. The woman’s robe flows loosely, and the boy’s clothes look stiff and formal. The background is plain, letting the figures stand out in soft brown ink. The smoke from the pot suggests something sacred or ceremonial is happening. The boy’s crown and staff hint at power or royalty, but the woman’s quiet pose makes the scene feel serious rather than grand. Next, check out Baroque to see how drama and symbolism like this were used in art.
